SD top Thanksgiving travel destination

Hotels at San Diego County casinos, such as Valley View Casino's hotel in Valley Center shown above, likely played a part in San Diego besting Las Vegas this year as the top Thanksgiving travel destination for Southern Californians. The addition of hotels have made the casinos overnight destinations. U-T San Diego file photo.

Hotels at San Diego County casinos, such as Valley View Casino's hotel in Valley Center shown above, likely played a part in San Diego besting Las Vegas this year as the top Thanksgiving travel destination for Southern Californians. The addition of hotels have made the casinos overnight destinations. U-T San Diego file photo.

San Diego is the top Thanksgiving travel destination for Southern Californians this year, beating out Las Vegas, which had held that title the past two years, according to the Auto Club of Southern California.

And while that’s good news for San Diego’s sun-soaked golf courses, hotels and amusement parks, it comes amid an expected decline in national and regional travel over the November holiday.

Top 5 destinations for SoCal travelers over Thanksgiving holiday

1) San Diego

2) Las Vegas

3) San Francisco

4) Central Coast (Santa Barbara to Monterey)

5) Grand Canyon

Source: Auto Club of Southern California’s survey of travel agents

Across the United States, the number of people traveling at least 50 miles over Thanksgiving is forecast to dip 1.5 percent compared to last year, according to AAA, the federation of motor clubs. The sluggish pace of the economic recovery is blamed for the national travel drop, which would be the first over Thanksgiving in five years.

Yes
16% (165)

No
84% (857)

1022 total votes.

Travel among Southern Californians could see an even steeper fall ---- estimated at 4 percent ----- due to the Golden State’s continued high unemployment and travel costs, according to the regional auto club.

“Consumers are aware that it is far more expensive to travel during the holidays than during other non-peak times of the year, particularly in the last two years as airfares have risen and the numbers of available airline seats have dropped,” said Filomena Andre, the regional Auto Club's vice president for travel. “Many of our members are opting to take leisure trips when they can get more value for their vacation dollar.”

Thanksgiving travel among Southern Californians fell 26 percent between 2007 and 2008, at the peak of the economic collapse. It slid another two percent in 2009. It bounced back somewhat in 2010 and 2011 before a small decline last year, according to the regional auto club.

The recent federal government shutdown was cited as one reason for a travel decline in government-heavy regions such as Virginia, said Marie Montgomery, an auto club spokeswoman. She said that the firm that conducted the club’s survey did not highlight the shutdown as a major factor in Southern California’s travel drop.

Nationally, 43.4 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more over the holiday, according to AAA. Ninety percent, or 38.9 million, will drive to their destinations, and 3.1 million are expected to fly. In Southern California, 3.22 million residents are expected to travel, with 86 percent going by car and 10 percent by air. Motorists will get a break on gas prices, which near $3.55 per gallon, are the lowest in California during the Thanksgiving holiday since 2010, according to the auto club.

Locally, as many as 60,000 passengers are expected to pass through San Diego International Airport. Officials at the downtown hub advised travelers to arrive at least 1.5 hours before departure for domestic flights and 2.5 hours for international flights.